Will ecological cars soon dominate our roads?

Hybrid, electric, solar energy-based vehicles – all those variants are still a very distant perspective across a number of European countries. Ecological models of the most popular vehicle, the car, are still too expensive for small entrepreneurs and private owners alike. Several EU countries have announced their national electromobility development plans being considered as a growth engine in the economy and a tool in the fight against high pollution level in the cities. How to popularise ecological automobiles? Where are administrative, infrastructural and legal changes needed? Is Europe able to win the technological competition against USA and become a leader in the electric vehicles production and electromoblity as a whole?

Those are just some of the questions to be answered by the participants of the panel “Automobile Transport – How to Make it Ecologic?” which will take place during the 2nd Industry Forum in Karpacz (8th-10th December 2016). The transport issues and ways to ensure a healthy climate, as well as environment are all a permanent element of the conferences organised by the Foundation Institute for Eastern Studies.

This year we have invited the Irish EV Owners Association to partner with us on the panel. It will be moderated by the association’s chairman Frank Barr. Ireland is an example of a country which adapts itself very quickly to the common use of electric cars. There are currently over 1200 charging points spread throughout the Green Island. Nissan Leaf, Peugeot iON and BMW i3 are the most popular EV makes. In comparison, Poland, which is much bigger, has only a couple of charging points in each province capital [see: Samochodyelektryczne.org]. Even though the popularity of those ecologic cars is surging in the west of Europe, hybrids are still selling better. July 2016 saw 68 hybrids sold in Ireland, which constituted a 200% increase in comparison to the previous year. Pure electric cars sales fell by 35% in the analogic period. Reason? The models available on the market are getting older.

The example of Ireland showcases a variety of issues affecting the sector’s producers, as well as the enthusiasts of ecologic travel. Guests from other countries will also take part in the panel. Tim Patterson, CEO of Fuel Economy Solution Limited from the United Kingdom, will talk about traditional solutions aimed at reducing emissions and the use of biofuels. Fuel Economy Solution is a certified distributor of liquid fuel catalysers, which decrease the fuel usage by 5% and decrease emissions of harmful exhaust fumes by 75%. Nazar Shymone-Davyda, the Co-founder of Tesla Club Ukraine, will talk about the development perspectives on the Ukrainian ecological cars market. Our guest from Germany Ilja Radusch, Director of the Business Unit for Automotive Services and Communication Technologies (ASCT) by the Fraunhofer Fokus Institute will in turn approach the problem from the scientific perspective, addressing mostly technological development and new consumer trends. Alexander Korkin, Deputy Chairman of the Public Advisory Council by the Parliament of the Russian Kaliningrad Region and the Dean of the Radiotechnical Department at the Baltic State Academy will present his views on the functioning of eco-transport outside the European market systems.